Chapter Two

What am I doing?

The question bounces against the inside of my skull as I follow Coda Passero out of the ballroom, his fingers laced with mine. We leave my father and everyone I know in our wake. I feel dozens of eyes on us, but I don"t look back. I don"t stop walking either. Not even when my legs shake.

I don"t know who this beautiful man is, but I can"t keep my eyes off of him. He"s a fortress, his body chiseled from stone. The muscles lining his back bunch and shift with every step, visible even through the fabric of his expensive suit. Despite his overwhelming size, he moves with a lethal elegance that"s captivating.

How can one man command so much power?

My father"s warnings about not trusting anyone, especially men like Coda Passero, echo in my mind. According to him, men like Coda are ruthless, cunning…consumed by their need for power and control. Yet, it"s that same raw, unapologetic dominance that compels me toward him like a moth drawn fatally to a flame.

There"s a dark magnetism about him that I find irresistible. He"s not like anyone I"ve ever met before, not even close. I"m not sure there"s another man like him in all of Chicago.

I expect him to lead me toward the doors of the hotel, but he doesn"t. He cuts left and leads me to the bank of elevators nestled in an alcove.

We wait in silence, his eyes locked on me. I"m trapped in their depths, fascinated by the mystery they hold. There"s so much flickering there, yet I can"t read any it.

Who is he?

Not a cop. Not a fan of my father, either. That doesn"t tell me much. My father doesn"t have many fans left in Chicago. He"s been a cop since he was my age. He"s made a lot of enemies in that time. And they aren"t all men he"s put behind bars.

I think Coda is one of those—an enemy he made without ever locking cuffs around his wrists. I just don"t know why or how. My father…well, there"s a lot I don"t know about the things he does.

Growing up, I always thought he was a hero. Cops are supposed to be the good guys, right? It wasn"t until a few years ago that I realized that"s not always true. Heroes can disappoint you, too. They"re just as human as the rest of us. Sometimes, they"re worse.

I"m not sure if my dad is worse or if he"s just human. I haven"t figured that part out yet. But I know he"s not a saint. I know the world isn"t black and white. There"s good and evil and a whole lot of complicated shit in between.

I"m still trying to figure out which my father is.

The doors of an elevator slide open.

"It"s not too late to change your mind." Coda"s dark voice says he thinks I should.

"I"m not changing my mind."

His sinful smile says he"s glad I didn"t as he places his hand on the small of my back, helping me onto the elevator. The weight of his hand sends jolts of electricity shooting straight to my core. Every time he touches me, I feel the same magnetic pull, the same overwhelming crush of desire.

God. It"s incredible.

The doors whisper closed, shrouding us in silence again. There isn"t even any elevator music.

He jabs the button for the 30th floor. As soon as he does, the elevator lurches into life, a slight tremor shaking the mirrored walls.

I see us there, our bodies in startling juxtaposition—black suit against scarlet dress, dark enigma against innocent sunflower. We"re opposite poles of the same burning desire.

He spins toward me suddenly, like a predator snapping his attention onto prey. Except…I want to be hunted. I want to be consumed.

God, yes.

My heart hammers as he grips my waist, hoisting me up until I"m flush against the smooth chrome wall. Trapped between it and his hard body.

His mouth descends on mine. His kiss is an indisputable claim, a ruthless exploration that leaves me breathless and whimpering for more. It"s demanding yet gentle, an inferno that sears my lips and soothes the raw edges of the desire churning through me.

His hands roam over my curves, his fingers leaving trails of fire in their wake. His touch is the best of both worlds—possessive and reverential—as if he can"t decide whether he wants to devour or worship me.

I"ve never even been kissed before tonight, and he"s defying every expectation I"ve ever had. There"s no way anyone else will ever measure up to this.

I gasp as he trails hot kisses down my throat, his teeth grazing against my flesh. Every touch sends shockwaves rippling through me.

"Please," I moan, grinding against him in search of relief. I need it. Desperately.

"Fuck." He releases me with a grunt, stepping away as if scorched. He rakes his hand through his disheveled hair, his stormy eyes sweeping over my flushed face.

"Coda…" I reach out for him, not ready to let him go yet.

He evades my touch, grabbing my wrist in a grip that makes my heart race. It"s not tight enough to hurt. Just tight enough to let me know that he"s in charge here.

"Don"t," he murmurs, his voice husky and low.

"But…"

"I"m not fucking you up against the wall in an elevator, Karina," he growls, his voice laced with a rawness that pierces straight through me. "I won"t allow anyone with a fucking badge to get their hands on footage of you begging for my cock."

I gulp audibly. I guess I didn"t think about that.

Clearly, he did. His eyes glitter with jealousy—an unholy possessiveness that makes my soul tremble, not with fear but with longing. What would it feel like to belong to this man, not for a night but permanently? To be his in every way?

He"s dangerous. I know this. Only an idiot looks at him and misses the impenetrable darkness swirling in his eyes like storm clouds. But I don"t think he"s a danger to me.

The elevator shudders to a stop.

Coda pulls me out into the hallway.

He"s so quiet, cloaked in silence as if it"s his natural state. It isn"t mine, but I like the intensity of his silent presence. It soothes the innate need to ramble that usually pricks at me.

My heart pounds more aggressively with every second that ticks by.

His suite is a study in raw, naked ambition, a sprawling expanse of luxury dwarfed only by his commanding presence. The panoramic windows offer a breathtaking view of the city—a mesmerizing sea of twinkling lights against the vast canvas of the night sky. The furniture is dark, sleek, and modern…a fitting reflection of Coda himself.

Before I have time to process this sort of luxury, his arms snake around me from behind. His hot breath fans against my nape as his lips trace a path down my neck, sending lava straight into my veins.

"There are no cameras here, cara. No one to recognize you when I fuck you up against the windows," he murmurs into my ear, sending jolts of desire racing down my spine. "Those perfect breasts pressed to the glass while you"re crying out for me." His fingers trace an intricate pattern on my lower back—a brand marking me as his. "Do you think they"ll seethe with envy when they look up and see me fucking an angel?"

Overwhelmed by the unfamiliar thrill shooting through me, I whirl around to face him. My hands find purchase on his chest as I look up into his eyes. Those dark pools simmer with a hunger that I"m sure reflects in my eyes.

I want him. Not to piss off my father. Not to rebel. But because I"m dying to know what it feels like to have him all over me.

"What"s stopping you from finding out?" I ask, proud when my voice doesn"t shake.

A rare smile tips his lips up, turning him from handsome devil to demon prince.

He releases me, striding toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. He called me an angel, but with his silhouette outlined against the twinkling lights of Chicago, he"s the one who looks like a fallen angel exiled from heaven.

He turns back to gaze at me. There"s something achingly beautiful about this moment—him framed by a halo of neon lights, me standing in the middle of his opulent kingdom, our moment of rebellion long forgotten. This is about us now, about the clawing, desperate ache gnawing at us.

He feels it, too. The truth is right there, reflecting back at me like stars.

"Take off your clothes," he commands softly, his eyes never leaving mine. It"s not a request. It"s an order—one that has my body responding instinctively.

I obey because I want this—want him. I strip down to nothing, baring myself to his consuming gaze. I"ve never been naked in front of a man before now. I should be terrified to let this one see all of my flaws and imperfections. But I"m not. The way he looks at me…I"ve never felt more beautiful.

Instead of stepping forward to claim me, he merely nods in approval, a dark smile playing on his lips. "Good girl." He crooks a finger, beckoning me to him. "Come, cara."

I comply, my heart beating a wild tattoo in my chest as I cross the room to him. My bare feet pad softly on the lush carpet until I"m mere inches away from him.

He doesn"t move to touch me initially, instead studying me with his haunting eyes. I get trapped in his gaze again, pinned by the lust simmering there. He lifts his hand slowly, as if giving me time to change my mind.

I don"t.

His fingertips slide down the center of my chest—claiming, commanding, possessing.

"Coda," I moan, shaking as heat courses through me in an inferno.

He grips me tighter, his strength undeniable as he pins me up against the glass wall. My breasts press against the cool surface, a thrilling sensation that sends a jolt of surprise through me.

His mouth finds the nape of my neck, nipping and kissing. His hands are everywhere—exploring and claiming every inch of my exposed body. His teeth graze my skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.

I gasp as his fingers trail down my stomach. My muscles tremble beneath his touch. I shiver, anticipation pooling low in my belly.

"You"re so soft." His hand slides lower, his palm pressing against my center.

I whimper at the contact, my breath hitching in my throat. The city is a blur beneath me, the glass foggy from my breath. We reflect back in haunting glimpses, far more real than anything down below.

He parts my slit with his thumb.

I"m so wet. So, so wet. He feels it and grunts, grinding his erection against my ass.

His teeth sink into the side of my throat again, a pleased growl rumbling against my back.

"Coda…" My voice is a ragged whisper as he thrusts two fingers into me. The sudden intrusion draws a sharp cry from my lips, a mix of pleasure and pain that sends shockwaves through my entire body.

Coda freezes, fingers still inside me. "Karina…" His voice is thick with concern and surprise. "You"re…why didn"t you tell me you"re a virgin, cara?"

My cheeks flame with embarrassment as I turn to meet his gaze. Words stick in my throat, but finally, I manage to respond, "I didn"t want you to change your mind."

His expression softens for a moment before his lips curl in that dangerous smile again. "You think I would have?"

"I…" Words fail me so I nod.

He bends down to capture my lips with his in a tender kiss. "You"re wrong," he breathes against my lips. "So wrong. We have more in common than you think."

More in common than I…? Wait. Is it trying to say that he"s a—?

He drops to his knees, spreading my legs apart before I have time to ask him that question. Rational thought spirals away as he buries his face between my thighs, his tongue lashing out to tease and torment my clit.

His mouth is…I can"t form a coherent thought, all I can do is feel. I moan, spreading my legs wider as he continues to set my body on fire. His fingers dig into my hips, holding me steady as his tongue continues its merciless assault. He savors me, his groans vibrating against me and adding more sensation to the beautiful torture.

He pulls back, looking up at me with those piercing green eyes, the glint of desire a painful, pleasurable sight. "You taste sweet," he murmurs.

Damn him for sounding so controlled even now, when I"m ready to shatter into a million jagged pieces.

"And you—"

He cuts me off with another delve of his tongue, pushing deeper this time.

I cry out, my hands gripping his hair tight. There"s a flash of pain through the pleasure, but it only serves to spur him on.

"Quiet," he orders. Again, he pulls away only to move lower. My breath hitches in surprise when his tongue starts circling around that other tiny entrance. An embarrassed whimper escapes me, but he just growls, "Trust me, cara."

Before I can protest further, he"s back at it, ruining me with sensations I never knew existed.

My body shakes, trembling with pleasure that becomes unbearable. I arch into him helplessly as waves of ecstasy wash over me. The world goes blank except for his lingering taste on my tongue.

"Coda…" A warning or a plea? I can"t tell anymore.

He groans against me, the sound vibrating through me. "You like it here too."

I can only nod, words failing me entirely.

"Good girl." He increases the speed of his sinful exploration—using his lips, tongue, and fingers.

Within seconds, I"m on the edge again.

I scream my release against the glass as if shouting it into the city below. The world stops spinning as I shatter. My heart stops beating. Time stops.

Coda doesn"t. He keeps going until I"m spent and wrung out, pleading for mercy.

Once the world starts spinning again, he rises. His mouth crashes against mine, letting me taste my own intoxicating sweetness on his tongue.

"That was…you were…"

He just smiles down me, his eyes dark with unspent desire. "That was just the beginning, cara."

Just the beginning…?

Oh, God. What have I gotten myself into?

Before I can ponder over that for long, he pulls away and reaches for his phone. After a few taps, he hands it to me. "Call your cell so I have your number."

My hands shake as I dial my number. My phone vibrates from the pile of clothes I left across the room.

Coda hears it and strides that way, gathering everything up. He finds my cell, checks the screen, and nods his approval before crossing back to me.

In seconds, he"s beside me again, lowering himself to his knees to help me dress. His fingertips gently graze my skin as he plucks my panties from the pile of my clothing. A smile lingers on his lips as he pulls them back onto me, placing kisses on the inside of my thighs as he slips them into place.

I can"t speak. His mouth against my bare skin sends shocks through my system. Heat rises to my cheeks, and I struggle to string together coherent thought.

Next, it"s my bra. His hands slide up my sides slowly, deliberately. The lace is cold against the heat of my skin but warms up instantly under Coda"s touch. He effortlessly hooks it behind me, his lips ghosting over the column of my neck before finally landing on the side of my mouth.

A gasp leaves my lips at his simple yet sensual act, but words remain elusive.

He doesn"t seem to mind.

My dress follows last, slipping easily over my head and settling over my body with a soft rustle. With a final swipe of his rough thumb against the hollow of my throat, he pulls me up against him, holding me.

After a moment that"s not nearly long enough, he sighs, leading me out of the room.

"Did you drive yourself, cara?" he asks once we"re on the elevator.

"No."

He nods.

We cross the lobby hand in hand, stepping out into the cool night air. He hails a cab for us—or rather for me. I can tell by his expression that he isn"t leaving anytime soon. He confirms this when he leans in close, his lips against the shell of my ear.

"Soon, cara."

With that promise hanging in the air between us, he taps the side of the cab, sending me off into the night with his taste on my lips and his number in my phone. Alone, yet not quite the same woman who walked into the ballroom hours ago.

As the hotel fades behind me, I realize he"s given me more than just his number and his taste. He"s given me a craving for the forbidden…sparking a flame I didn"t even know could burn.